Special to RGV Fútbol

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BROWNSVILLE, 10 Aug. - Every little bit helps. That’s been the Rio Grande Valley Soccer Coaches Organization’s mission for the past few years, and it continued its mandate Thursday night when it awarded four $500 scholarships to a quartet of Valley soccer players.

During what has become an annual tradition for the RGVSCO, the organization awarded the scholarships during an awards dinner for the recipients and their parents at Arturo’s Restaurant in Weslaco.

The scholarships were awarded to midfielder Juan Jesús García of Brownsville López, midfielder Juan Alonso Ibarra and defender Javier “Güero” López, both from Brownsville Hanna, and forward Javier Chávez of Edinburg.

"Our goal is to help the kids and every year we’ve been able to do a little more," said RGVSCO President Juan de Dios García. "We know how hard it is economically for a lot of these kids and we want to see them succeed, not just athletically, but academically. We hope that by contributing our little grain of sand, we can help a handful of students achieve their goals beyond high school."

García, Ibarra and López were represented at the presentation ceremony at Alonso’s by their parents, while Chávez attended with his family. The trio of players from Brownsville could not attend because they had left the Valley the weekend before to get settled in at their new and respective colleges.

"We are really proud of him (Ibarra) and what he has been able to accomplish with the help of his coaches," said Ibarra’s parents Arturo and Lily Ibarra.

"We are truly grateful to the organization because, unfortunately, they need a lot of money to study and the support they’re giving means a lot to us and Juan," added García’s parents, Juan Jesús and Silvia García. “We’re grateful that the organization is helping out the players, for the sport, and so that they can keep studying."

García will attend and play soccer for Texas College, while Ibarra will do the same at the University of Houston at Victoria. Chávez will attend South Texas College in the fall.

"It gives me great satisfaction that I was selected because it shows all that hard work paid off," said Chávez, who played three years on Edinburg’s varsity squad. "And that they still support you although you are leaving. After STC, I plan to attend Pan Am."

The RGVSCO has been offering scholarships for the past few years. The organization encourages students to submit their scholarship application, along with a short essay, in order to be considered for the award, which is given to them upon successful completion of their first semester at the college of their choice.

"We’re very happy and grateful with God and the organization, that started from nothing," said Chávez’s parents Francisco Javier and Sandra Chávez. "It’s a privilege to have received the assistance by the organization. I hope that people will listen and look into this organization, and support them because it’s an honor that an organization like this would help your children come out ahead, to be a better player, but always a better student and human being."